Council Highlights - July 13, 2020
Town of Pelham Council approves Zoning and Official Plan amendments for cannabis operations
On July 13, 2020, Town of Pelham Council passed bylaws to amend the Official Plan and the Zoning Bylaw as they pertain to cannabis operations within the town.
The amendment to the Official Plan (bylaw 4521(2020)), adds policies for the studies required to support the establishment of indoor cannabis and industrial hemp cultivation facilities, ensuring all potential adverse effects are studied in advance. These studies include an Emission Summary and Dispersion Modelling Report, Contingency Odour Mitigation Plan, Light Mitigation Plan, Contingency Light Mitigation Plan, and Traffic Impact, in addition to all other studies required as part of a re-zoning application.
The results of these studies establish minimum setbacks from sensitive land uses in the required site-specific zoning bylaw amendment, and may establish a maximum size for the facility. These studies may also establish minimum separation distances between a proposed facility and any existing indoor cannabis or industrial hemp cultivation facilities, to mitigate adverse effects.
The amendment sets guidelines for the range of setbacks considered if indoor cannabis and/or industrial hemp cultivation is proposed through a zoning bylaw amendment. These setbacks are based on best practices and knowledge of the adverse effects currently experienced by residents. Given that these setbacks are guidelines, they can be increased or decreased based on the merits of an individual application.
The Zoning Bylaw (4252 (2020)) amendment establishes provisions applying to cannabis-related uses and industrial hemp-related uses in the Town of Pelham. The amendment establishes two new zones: Agricultural-Cannabis (A-CAN) and General Industrial-Cannabis (M2-CAN) with site-specific provisions for lot frontage, area, setbacks and lot coverage.
The amendment also adds definitions for “cannabis-related use – indoor”, “cannabis-related use – outdoor”, “industrial hemp-related use – indoor”, industrial hemp-related use – outdoor” and “sensitive land use” and establishes a general parking requirement of one parking space per 100 m2 (1076.39 ft2) of gross floor area for these uses.
The amendments replace the interim control bylaw which was set to expire July 15.
Accipiter ice to be put in
The Accipiter Arena in Pelham’s Meridian Community Centre will have ice available for rental beginning July 27.
A result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and regularly scheduled program and activity cancellations, the Accipiter Arena is getting its ice months before it would normally be made; demand for ice time within the Niagara Region fueled the decision to open the second pad at the MCC.
The Duliban Arena ice pad has been in use since July 8, with users submitting to health screening and temperature checks at the door. The guidelines and safety protocols in place for the Duliban ice pad will remain consistent through the Accipiter ice pad.
Users looking to book ice time can do so in one-hour blocks by calling 905-892-2607 x329. Rosters of participants will need to be submitted a day in advance and skaters should arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled rental time. Dressing rooms and showers remain closed at this time.
Steve Bauer Trail to be upgraded, paved
The Steve Bauer Trail will be paved from Port Robinson Road to Line Avenue. Council, hearing from Bea Clark, Chair of the Pelham Active Transportation Committee, agreed to utilize the Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling grant of $75,000 for the project.
Accroding to Clark, the project involves paving the Steve Bauer Trail from Port Robinson Road to the southern Pelham boundary.
"The Steve Bauer Trail is heavily used in Pelham. This section is especially well used by pedestrians and cyclists, as it links to East Fonthill and the Meridian Community Centre. It also creates a better, safer route for those commuting to Niagara College, to work or for cyclists wishing to link to Welland’s recreational trail system and the Greater Niagara Circle Route. A paved trail will not only support cyclists, but it will also provide better and safer access for pedestrians and residents using mobility devices.
This project is desirable and is requested frequently by cyclists, pedestrians, seniors and residents seeking an accessible trail in Pelham. It will provide good linkages to the MCC, to East Fonthill, to Niagara College and to Welland’s paved trail system.
This project is affordable, would likely benefit the greatest number of residents and could be completed before December 31, 2020."
The paving of the trail will be completed in conjunction with the OMCC grant and the 2021 Canada Summer Games legacy project funding.
Short Term Accommodation amendments
Council approved amendments to the Official Plan, Zoning Bylaw, and Licensing Bylaw for bed and breakfast establishments and short-term accommodations.
The revisions to the draft Official Plan as directed by Council, remove the following sections from the amendment – Section B1.1.2, B1.1.7 and B1.7.7.4.1. This will remove STAs from being permitted in Medium to High Density Residential and in any other types of houses except for single detached dwellings.